The Blazing Top 25 of 2006: 5 to 1 [Day 5]

Drum roll...

#5
The North Atlantic
Wires In The Walls
We Put Out Records [2006]







The North Atlantic put out a perfect collection of 11 post-punk tracks that contained ferocity, passion and intensity on Wires In The Walls. It also contained our favorite lyric of the year on the song “Scientist Girl” which was “I’d rather listen to my Clash records all night, then be with you”. So simply put - True That!

The North Atlantic Review [7/18/06] @ The Fire Note

#4
TV On The Radio
Return To Cookie Mountain
4AD/Interscope Records [2006]







The best album that you cannot just stick into one category. Return To Cookie Mountain was a complete sonic experience and forced you to listen at least once by headphones to capture all of the in and outs. It flowed perfectly from track to track and still has not grown old. The Beta Band for the next generation.

TV On The Radio Review [7/12/06] @ The Fire Note

#3
The Decemberists
The Crane Wife
Capitol Records [2006]







The Decemberists went to the major labels and released their best album to date. The Crane Wife retained all the quirkiness that made them so lovable before and combined that with top notch production and instrumentation. Every time we thought this album was going to be put on the shelf it made its way back into the player - that is power.

The Decemberists Review [10/2/06] @ The Fire Note

#2
The Hold Steady
Boys And Girls In America
Vagrant Records [2006]








The Hold Steady released the ultimate bar album of the year, which was played on ten every time it spun and just kept getting better with each listen. How can you go wrong with songs about drinking, drugs and the ladies? Boys And Girls In America has a 70's rock vibe, indie lyrical craziness and the hip style of Pavement - it was just simply a cool record!

The Hold Steady Review [10/3/06] @ The Fire Note

#1
Arctic Monkeys
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Domino [2006]







We were hooked from the first listen. The Arctic Monkeys were more infectious with every listen and easily held up to many repeat listens. They also have the right amount of punk swagger of tossing an FU to record companies by building their fan base and releasing mp3s on the net long before Whatever People Say was released. Guess what? Their album still debuted at #1 in the UK. We also have a special connection to this record because it was the first review The Fire Note posted on our debut day back in April. How can it not be #1?

Arctic Monkeys Review [4/10/06] @ The Fire Note

Well that is it for 2006. Feel free to post some of your top albums of 06' - we would love to see them. Have a great new year and we will see you on January 2 for our first review in 2007.

Thanks for all the support in 2006 and helping make The Fire Note a success!
-Staff